Sheila Hebert


 * SUMMARY: Sheila Hebert, age 27, died June 6, 1984 after an abortion at Delta Women's Clinic in Baton Rouge, LA.**

A chronic asthma patient, 27-year-old Sheila Elizabeth Marks Hebert, mother of a 10-year-old son, went to Delta Women's Clinic in Baton Rouge for a [|safe and legal abortion]on June 5 or 6, 1984.

Shortly after being moved to the recovery area, Sheila complained of chest pains and difficulty breathing. Something had triggered a severe asthmatic reaction. She lost consciousness, and staff injected her with adrenaline while awaiting EMS services.

The medics arrived within three minutes of getting the call, but found Sheila blue, cold, and essentially lifeless. She was taken to a hospital and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, but efforts to revive her were unsuccessful.

The coroner attributed the death to "cardiorespiratory arrest due to acute ashtmatic bronchitis" after "surgical termination of pregnancy.

A suit was filed anonymously against Richardson Glidden and Delta Women's Clinic regarding Sheila's death. The suit charged Glidden and Delta staff with failure to monitor Sheila in recovery, failing to react properly when her condition was discovered, failing to call 911 promptly, and failing to have adequate emergency equipment available.

 Sources:
 * East Baton Rouge Parish District Court Case No. 289518
 * "DA to investigate abortion death," Baton Rough Advocate, July 11, 1984
 * East Baton Rouge Parish District Court Case No. 289518